Water-proof shoe



(Model.)

M. R. BISSELL.

l WATERPROOF SHOE. I No. 249,497. Patented Nov. 15,1881.

Inv/enf or. dlelu'llezsel.

Witnesses.

N4 PETERS. Plumb-Limograpllnn Washington. DC.

" UNITED STATES.`

PATENT OFFICE. i

MELVILLE It. BISSELL, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

WATER-PROOF SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,497, dated November 1,5, 1881.

` Application filed September 24,1881. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVILLE R. BissELL, acitizen of the United States, residing n t Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvemeuts in Water-Proof Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of boots or shoes which are especially intended for lumbermen and other laborers who are exposed to cold and wet Weather. y

The object of my invent-ion is to provide strong, durable, warm, and water-proof boots or shoes, which are capable of being worn in snow and slush and in muddy places without employing separate coverings,whereby1 avoid the necessity of using rubbers, which must be drawn over the ordinary shoes, as such'is very objectionable for rough work, owing to the liability of the rubbers to become cut and soon worn out.` l

To these ends my invention consists in a boot or shoe composed of an inner body of felt, an exterior covering of weather-protecting fabric applied over the same, but disconnected from the upper thereof, and a wooden sole on which the felt body rests and the exterior covering i is attached, all as will be more fully hereinafter rss described in detail.

Figure l isa perspective view of the inner felt shoe or boot; Fig. 2, a like view of the completed shoe, with a portion of the water-proof covering broken away, and Fig. 3, a transverse section takenthrou gli the front portion of the shoe.

The letter A indicates a felt shoe which is composed entirely of felt, the sole and the upper of said shoe being preferably formed integral with eachother by compressing the ma` 4to which the waterproofed covering is secured along its lower edge. This covering `will be composed of some strong and durable textile materialsuch as canvasthoroughly waterproofed by any suitable waterproofing comf` pound or solution, which can be applied in any of the known ways employed for producing a Water-proof fabric. It will be provided with such seam or seams asma-y be requisite to give it the shape of a shoe-upper, and also to cause it to lit closely upon the inner felt shoe. In

its application to the felt shoe or inner felt body, the Waterproofed fabric is not vulcanized thereon or attached thereto throughout its eX- tent, but it simply covers the inner felt body or shoewithout-beingpermanently joined thereto, and is practicallya separate and distinct piece, which greatly reduces the cost of manufacture and produces a more desirable article. I have illustrated this outer water-proof covering as being secured to the wooden sole by means of screws, tacks, or nails d, passing through a continuous band, D, and through the covering at its lower edge into the edge of the Wooden sole. This band will be of leather, Waterproofed fabric, or other tough material or metal that will resist the action of the Water, and it will obviously prevent the water-proof covering from tearing away from t-he tacks or nails, and also protect and concealthe lower edge of the said covering.

It is obvious that other means than those just described could be employed for securing the water-proof covering to the wooden soleas, for instance, the edge of the fabric could be turned under and fastening devices employed Without the band. The sole or bottom of the inner felt shoe will itdirectly upon the top ofthe wooden sole, which latter can be coated upon the top and edge with any suitable water-proof sole.` Also, if desired, any water-proof cement can be applied between the edge of the wooden sole and the Water-proof covering before thetwo are secured together, in order to form a perfectly tight joint, although the shoe herein shown will beadapted forall practical purposes. The wooden sole can be formed with the usual heel, and also have any desired number of studsor nails driven into its bottom, so as to form arough-shod shoe. l

Heretofore shoes have been composed of a seamless feltbody and an attached outer sole of leather; also of inner and outer layers of cloth, the inner layer having a fuzzy or raised IOO nap, the two being vulcanized together and a leather sole being attached thereto; also, rubber shoes have been combined with waterproof stockings of lknitted or similar fabric; and,furt'her, leather boots and shoes have been provided with Wooden soles; but it will be evident that these different styles of boots and shoes, which I hereby disclaim, do not constitute my invention as herein described and claimed.

What I claim is- As an improved article of manufacture, a boot or shoe consisting of an interior felt body, an

exterior covering of weatherprotecting fabric applied over the same, but disconnected from 15 the felt body, and a wooden outer sole on which the felt body rests, and to which the exterior covering is attached, substantially as and for the purpose described. a

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set -zo my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MELVILLE R. BISSELL. Witnesses:

DANIEL G. HICKEY,

EDWARD J. JENKINS. 

